Circular-knitting machine.



CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 14. 1902.

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l i il l m "/vf f Q i i s o j( It l C f a? l u I l I I I l mmuw UNTTED STATES Patented February 28, 1905.

ASA C. BAUM, OF LITTLEFALLS, NEW YORK.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,408, dated February 28, 1905, Application filed February 14, 1902. Serial No. 94,140.

To (all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ASA C. BAUM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Littlefalls, in the county of Herkimer and State of New. York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specifi- This invention relates to that class of circular-'knitting machines in which the dialshaft extends through the cap-plate and which are provided with supporting arms or arches connecting the upper end of the dial-shaft to the bed-plate of the machine.

The object of my invention is, first, to provide means whereby theI cap-plate may be raised or separated from the dial for the purpose of rendering its under side accessible without removing the arch or disturbing' the circumferential adjustment between the two;

. secondly, to provide means whereby the needles in the dial may he held in place when the cap-plate is raised or removed from the dial.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-sectional and partly-elevated view of my improved knitting-machine. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevated top View of the needle-presser and the dial.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both views.

A represents the dial-shaft; B, the bed-plate; C, the arch; D, the supports for the arch, and E the hand-nutconnecting the dial-shaft to the arch C.

F represents the cylinder of the machine, and Gr the dial in which the horizontal needles H are slidably mounted in radial slots Gr.

I represents the cap-plate holding thecams which operate the horizontal needles.

In carryingout my invention I provide the dial-shaft with screw-threads A. Engaging withy these threads'is a coupling-nut J, which is rotatably connected to the cap-plate by means of an inwardly-projecting disk or ring K, adapted to engage an annular groove L, cut in the upper portion of the hub of the capplate. In order to permit the introduction of said ring into the groove, the ring is made in sections, which are secured to the couplingnut by means of screws M. For the purpose of preventing the cap-plate revolving when the same is elevated by means of the couplingnut the dial-shaft is provided with a groove A2,in which akey N slides. This key is mounted in a corresponding groove cut in the hub of the cap-plate.

O represents the needle presser or retainer, whereby the needles are held in position when the cap-plate is raised. This needle-presser is provided with a hub adapted to fit inside a recess or enlarged portion P within the hub of the cap-plate. 'Ihe hub of the needle-presser also engages the threaded portion of the dialshaft for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

In operating my invention the needlepresser is brought down on the heels of the needles by giving it a slight turn by means of a key inserted through the slot R in the hub of the cap-plate, said key engaging a cavity S, located in the hub of the needle-presser. In order to permit the needle-presser to be so adjusted, the slot R and the cavity S are so positioned that they will coincide with each other when the cap-plate is brought down to a normal position on the dial. The cap-plate is then raised by turning the coupling-nut J, the under side of the cap-plate being thus made accessible and suspended in an elevated position, as indicated in Fig. l. When the cap-plate is again lowered to its proper place, the needle-presser is elevated slightly by giving it a turn in the opposite direction from that just described, this being accomplished in the same manner or by inserting a key through the slot or keyway R, above mentioned. 'Ihe needle-presser thus releases its grip or contact with the heels of the needles and permits same to be operated as usual. A further advantage of the threaded connection between the dial-shaft and the cap-plate by the intermediate coupling-nut is that a more delicate adjustment between the cap-plate and the dial can be made than is possible to obtain by means of a set-screw, which has heretofore been employed for the purpose of holding the cap-plate to the dial-shaft. When the required adjustment of the cap-plate has been obtained, the cap-plate may be held perfectly rigid by the set-screw U, which engages the key N, above referred to.

It is evident that by the construction above IOC) described the cap plate may be raised so as to makevits cams accessible without disturbcated farther toward the center of the dial.

The needle-presser may also 'be differently connected or constructed than shown. The cap-plate and Aits connection with the dialshaft may also differ from that above described.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the dial-cam-carrying plate of a circular-knitting machine, with means for lifting said plate clear of the dial, substantially as speciiied.

2. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with a dial-shaft having a threaded portion, the dial-cam plate slidably mounted on said shaft, a coupling-nut connecting the dial-cam plate with the threaded portion of the dial-shaft whereby said dial-cam plate may be raised or lowered by turning the couplingnut, and means for holding said dial-cam plate against rotation when the coupling-nut is revolved substantially as specified.

3. In a circular-knitting machine the combination of a dial, a cam-carrying cap-plate, a dial-shaft extending through the cap-plate, a threaded portion on said dial-shaft, a nut adapted to said threaded portion and rotatably connected to said cap-plate whereby the said cap-plate may be moved toward or away from said dial by the rotation of said nut, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination in a circular-knitting machine, of a dial-cam-carrying plate,a threaded stem thereon having a spline therein, a nut adapted to said threaded stem, an arch or other carrier for the cam-plate, and a feather adapted to the Spline in the stem and having portions engaging the cam-plate and nut.

5. In a circular-knitting machine the combination of a dial, a cam-carrying cap-plate, a dial-shaft extending through the cap-plate, a threaded portion on said dial-shaft, a nut adapted to said threaded portion and rotatably connected to said cap-plate whereby the said cap-plate may be moved toward or away from said dial by the rotation of said nut, and means for preventing circumferential motion of said cap-plate.

6. In a circular-knitting machine the combination with the dial-shaft having a threaded portion, the cap-plate slidably mounted on said shaft, a coupling-nut connecting the capplate with the threaded portion of` the dialshaft, means for holding the cap-plate against rotation when the coupling-nut is turned for the purpose of elevating the cap plate, a needle-presser secured independently underneath the cap-plate, said needle-presser being provided with means whereby same may be raised or lowered for the purpose of effecting a vertical adjustment of the same, substantially as described.

7. In a circular-knitting machine the combination with the dial-shaft having a threaded portion, the cap-plate slidably mounted on said shaft, a coupling-n ut connecting the capplate with thethreaded portion of the dialshaft, whereby the cap-plate may be raised or lowered by turning the coupling-nut, and means for holding the cap-plate against rotation when the coupling-nut is revolved, substantially as described.

8.. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination of a removable cap-plate and a needle-presser comprising a disk or ring arranged underneath the said cap-plate and said needle-presser engaging the heels of the dialneedles preventing the said needles from disengaging the dial when the cap-plate is removed, substantially as described.

9. In a circular-knitting machine the combination of a support, a removable cap-plate and needle-presser secured independently to said support, said needle-presser being provided` with means whereby the same may be raised or lowered for the purpose of effecting a vertical adjustment of the same, substantially.

as described.

10. The combination in a circular-knitting machine, of a dial with its needles, a cam-carrying cap-plate, means for raising or lowering said cap-plate, and means for holding the needles in position when the cap-plate is separated from the dial.

11. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination of a dial, a cam-carrying cap-plate, a dial-shaft extending through the ca p-plate, said dial-shaft having a threaded portion, a nut adapted to said threaded portion an intermediate connection between the said nut and cap-plate, whereby the said cap-plate may be moved toward or away from the said dial by the rotation of the nut and means for preventing circumferential motion of the said cap-plate.

12. The combination in a circular-knitting machine of a dial, acam-carrying cap-plate, a dial-shaft extending through the said capplate, means on the dial-shaft for moving the said cap-plate toward or away from said dial and means for holding the said capplate against rotation during said movement.

ASA C. BAUM.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH HoRwALD, C. J LUNDsTRoM.

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